Jonbon will return to Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday, November 13, with trainer Nicky Henderson confident that the 10-year-old is better prepared to challenge for a historic third victory in the Jonbon Shloer Chase. The two-mile Grade Two contest will headline Countryside Day during The November Meeting, with Jonbon aiming to become the first horse to win the race three times.
The 12-time Grade One winner captured the Shloer Chase in 2023 and 2024 before finishing second to L’Eau du Sud by 15 lengths last year. Henderson, however, believes his stable star has made better progress in preparation for this season’s renewal and will arrive in stronger condition.
Jonbon will also have a new jockey for Friday’s assignment, with Harry Cobden taking the ride for the first time in his role as retained jockey to owner JP McManus. Paddy Murphy, who has partnered the gelding in his daily training routine, will continue to oversee his preparation.
Speaking during a Zoom call organised by The Jockey Club, Henderson said he was pleased with Jonbon’s condition and believed the horse was further forward than at the same stage last season. He also confirmed that Jonbon had completed a successful away day at Kempton, which had helped his preparation.
Henderson indicated that he would be comfortable with Jonbon taking the lead if the race developed that way, explaining that the gelding enjoyed running prominently. He also acknowledged the importance of assessing whether the horse remained suited to the two-mile distance, having competed over two and a half miles in recent outings.
The trainer praised Jonbon’s consistency and longevity, highlighting his 12 Grade One victories and remarkable record of never finishing outside the first two. He also spoke about the affection racing fans had developed for the gelding, who has become one of the most recognisable horses at Seven Barrows.
Jonbon Shloer Chase Challenge Headlines Cheltenham Meeting
Another major Henderson runner expected to feature during The November Meeting will be Old Park Star, who is set to make his chasing debut in Saturday’s Grade Two Paddy Power Arkle Trial Novices’ Chase over two miles.
The six-year-old completed an unbeaten four-race hurdle campaign last season, which culminated in victory in the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Henderson reported that the gelding had been working well and had completed both a racecourse gallop and schooling sessions.
However, his participation will depend on the ground conditions, with Henderson keen to ensure that the course is suitable for the novice’s first appearance over fences. The trainer also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, particularly Kabral du Mathan.
Henderson explained that the decision to switch Old Park Star to chasing had been influenced by his natural jumping style. He felt the gelding’s ability to jump fences made the discipline a suitable next step in his development rather than pursuing a Champion Hurdle campaign.
Meanwhile, Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course, Jon Pullin, provided an update on conditions ahead of the meeting. Following six millimetres of overnight rain, the course had received 16 millimetres since the Showcase meeting on October 23 and 24. The ground was officially described as Good, Good to Soft in places, with further irrigation planned ahead of Friday.
Pullin also paid tribute to dual Cheltenham Festival and multiple Grade One-winning jockey Tom O’Brien, who died aged 39 following a battle with cancer. He extended his condolences to O’Brien’s family and friends.
Jonbon will target a record-breaking third Shloer Chase victory at Cheltenham on Friday, with Nicky Henderson confident that his stable star will arrive in better condition than last season.
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